San Francisco -- Cable Cars, Hills, Photos
Catch a ball at Pac Bell Park, watch the World Series bound San Francisco Giants
The #1 Tourist Destination on the West Coast
San Francisco Overview -- A Bit Extreme but Still the World's Most Beautiful City
San Francisco Cable Car History and Routes
Hotels in San Francisco
San Francisco History
An Overview of San Francisco -- Literally
What is the San Francisco Vibe?
I've been to San Diego, avoided LA when possible, and found Death Valley to be the nicest place in Southern California. My other favorite part of Southern California is anywhere between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.Since I was born in Northern California, and the Southerners are stealing all "our" water, I am naturally biased against LA. The LA Dept of Power and Water was even involved in rigging the energy markets right along with Enron, according to a Chronicle article. Well, the LADPW has its history, doesn't it? Southern California does have it's high points, but I'd much rather be in San Francisco.
I claim Morro Bay, Monterey, and Big Sur for Northern California. That way we get Hearst Castle and all the gold in the Lost Burro mining district in Big Sur.
I've also been to Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. These are all fantastic cities, but they just don't have the San Francisco vibe. Even with all it's problems, San Francisco is the best city to visit, in my humble but well-traveled opinion.
Take the homeless problem in SF. Since Canada is (supposedly) perfect and no one goes hungry there (right?), I was surprised to see all the homeless living on the Vancouver street and specifically at Victory Park in Vancouver.
I see the irony of the organizers placing homeless and tents in the war memorial just after Gulf War II ended. But maybe they like the park because of the nearby bathrooms, otherwise I'm sure these grassroots (right?) homeless people would have setup on the lawn in front of the library instead.
So I would not suggest that you use the public restrooms at Victory Park on West Hastings Street in Vancouver, right in the Green Zone. I was also surprsed to hear that 60 homeless prostitutes have gone missing in Vancouver recently, presumably murdered.
So Canada is not a perfect place, not even Vancouver, You can find these problems in all large cities, and San Francisco is the best one. Don't let the politics stop you.
On Grant St. at the corner of Bush is the Chinatown Gate.
O'Doul Gate, named for Left O'Doul. Lefty O'Doul's is a classic restaurant off Union Square, established in 1954. Lefty O'Douls features Giants memorabilia.
A view of Pacific Bell Park baseball stadium from the backside, on a fishing pier.
From atop Nob Hill, with the TransAmerica Pyramid in the background sky..
